Track brace



Nov. 16 1926. 1,606,754

T. H. EDELBLUTE TRACK BRACE Filed June 17, 1926 www {NVENTOR' LUI Patented Nov. l5, i926.

mrs srarss THOMAS H. EDELBLUTE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACK Application filed June 17,

This invention is for an improvement in rail or track braces and relates particularly to a track brace for use with rails of different sizes.

Various forms of track braces have heretofore been provided which are adjustable for engagement with rails of different sizes, and in most such devices the construction has been rather expensive and the clamp has generally required several parts. Even then, such a clamp or brace is only adjustable for rails within a limited range of sizes and is not adaptable for use with rails of other sizes.

recording to the present invention it is proposed to provide a track brace wherein the rail clamping means is of simple construction and wherein a minimum number of parts are required and wherein the application of the rail clamping means to the rails can be easily effected, the clamps being so arranged that they will automatically adapt themselves to rails of different sizes within a given range.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l represents a side elevation of the complete track brace assembled showing it applied to a pair of rails which are indicated in section.

Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the clamp elements viewed from the rail engaging face thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse section in the plane of line lli- IH of Figure 2, the tie rod being indicated in this figure.

Figure et is an enlarged side elevation of one Vof the clamps and a portion of the tie rod, showing the manner in which the clamp co-acts with the rail;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of claim.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the spaced apart 'rails which form a track and 3 is the tie rod of the track brace1 this rod being longer than the distance between the rails and having each end thereof threaded as indicated at et. On each of the threaded portions of the rod 3 is a pair of rail engaging clamps, these clamps being designated generally as 5, and cooperating with the clamps are nuts 6 which are threaded on the portions i of the rod 3.

Each of the clamp members 5 has an over- BRACE.

1926. Serial No. 116,583.

4L of the. rod 3 so that the members 5 will have considerable play on the threaded ends of the rod. The outer face 18 of each of the members 5 is preferably inclined to a slight extent with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod 3, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5. This inclination is preferably in the ,direction shown in Figure 3 wherein the face 13 inclines upwardly and outwardly, but it may be arranged as shown in Figure 5 where the inclination is just reversed.

In the use of the track brace, the clamping members 5 have a flange engaging recess 11 therein of such shape that it will conform exactly to the shape of the liange of the rail of the maximum size which the clamp is designed to accommodate. When the clamps are used with rails whose bases just fit into the recess l1, the rails 2 are set to the proper gauge and the clamps 5 brought into cooperating relation therewith after which the nuts 6 are tightened up. By reason of the inclined surfaces 13 on the members 5 the nuts 6 will tend to force the upper portion of the clamp in against the rail in advance of the lower portion, causing the clamp to bind on the rail. Where the rail is of a smaller size and its base does not conform to the shape of the space 1l, the nuts 6 will tend to force the tops of the members 5 inwardly to a greater extent than they press against the bottom portions of the members 5, thereby tending to tilt the members 5 to bring' the outer portion of the lip 7 into contact with the flange of the rail. This condition is clearly illustrated in Figure 4L where it will be noted that when the nut 6 has been taken up tight, the clamp will bind on the rail at points a and This binding or tilting movement of the clamps 5 is permitted by reason of the opening 12 therein being of greater diameter than the diameter of the rod 4. This will be clearly apparent from an inspection of Figure 4.

ln Figure 1i the clamp is shown as being appliedV to the smallest size of rail With which the clamp is adapted to be used. ln view of the fact that the primary purpose of the clamps is to prevent the rails from spreading or moving together, While tl e secondary purpose thereof is to hold the rails against lifting or tilting, it will be seen'that the clamps herein provided will effectively hold the rails against spreading or moving together, and at the same time they Will have sufficient bearing against the base of the rail to prevent looseness of the rail and to prevent the rail from moving u1 and down or tilting in the clamp.I There is no necessity for having the flange of the rail in contact with the shoulder l0 throughout the entire, Width of this shoulder, the contact shovvn in Figure l being suflicient, and there is no necessity for having the inclination on the under side of the lip 7 in contact with the upper surface of the rail flange throughout its entire length, the single point of contact illustrated in Figure L being sufcient Where the clamp is held against movement or tilting as it is in the present invention by the nut 6. .f

In the arrangement shown in Figure 5 the clamp is similar to that shown in Figure 3 and similar reference numerals have been used to designate the corresponding parts. The only difference between the tivo forms. is that in Figure 5 the inclinationv of the surface 13 is reversed to that shown in Figure 3. rlhe effect of this is that While a binding action is obtained, by reason of the nuts 6 tending to tilt the members 5 into a binding relation with the base of the rail, the shoulder l() will incline in a directionY opposite that shown in Figure asothat thev contact points a and will be correspondingly shifted. The same bindingA action Will, however, be obtained,

VAccording to the` preferred form of my invention, the top of the ledge l() has a central slotl()a therein extending into the hole l2. rThis. slot does. not effectively decrease the. supporting area` ofthe ledge 1,0,` but does permit a greater freedom of movement of the clamp member on the rod to get the greatest amount of tilting movement for engagement with the smaller sizes of rails With a minimum amount of play between the rod and the clamp. rlhis Will be clearly seenr from an inspection of Figure l wherein it will benoted that if the slot l()a vvere not provided that the tilting movement of the clamp would be more restricted and there Would be a thin bridge of metal which would be. very objectionable. lffurthermore,V the formation of the slot lO"L in the central portion of the ledge l0 facilitates the casting of the clamp members 5.

VFrom the foregoing it will be seenthat a very simple construction is provided by means of which a single clamping element may be effectively used with various sized rails between certain limits so that Where an operator uses several different size of rails he need only carry one size of brace in stock. rThis is also ofv advantage in the marlreting of the braces, as a dealer does not have to carry a wide range of sizes in stock to accommodate his trade. The structure can be =cheaply manufactured and the amount of metal is reduced to a minimum. The brace can be conveniently used in mines and in other industrial operations Where light temporary tracks are required, and it cany also b e advantageously used in connection withY standard railroad tracks.

While l have illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, it Will be understood that various changes` in the detail construction thereof may be made Within the contemplation of my invention and un ler the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1 l. ln atraclr brace, a. tie rod having a threaded portion, a pair of opposite clamps on the threaded portion of the tie rod` each of said clamps having a` hole therein ivhose diameter is sufficiently larger than the diameter of the threaded portion of the tie rod to permit of a tilting movement of the clamps thereon whereby they may bind against the base of the rails, and nuts screwed on the threaded portion of the tie rod for holding the clamps into binding relation with a rail.

2 A track brace comprising a rod member having a threaded portion, al pair of opposed clamping elements each of which has a` rail base receiving recess therein, each of sai-d elements also having a hole therethrough through which the threaded portion of the rod member is passed, the diameter of the threaded portion of the rod member being sufficiently less than the diameter of the holes through the elements to permit of4 a tiltingmovement of the clamps. thereon, and nuts on the threaded portion of the rod member for cooperation with the clamping elements, said clamping elements having vertically inclined outer faces thereof against which the nuts are adapted to bear.

3. fr track brace comprising a rod member having threaded end portions, a pair of cooperating-rail clamp elements on each of the threaded portions of the rod, said rail clamp elements each having a base receiving recess therein Whose shape conforms substantially to the shape of the rail base, each of.' said clamp elements having a hole therein through which the threaded portion of the rod is passed and Which is offslightly greater diameterv than the diameter of the threaded portions of the rod, the outer faces of said clamping elements beingslightly inclined, and nuts on the threadedV portions ot the rod for cooperation with the clamping elements.

4. A track brace having a rod member which is threaded and clamping members, said clamping members each comprising a body portion having a hole therein of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the rod, said body portion having a narrow neck portion, an overhanging lip element integral therewith, the body portion having a shoulder thereon over which the lip projects, the said shoulder being slotted over the hole through the body.

5. A track brace having a rod member which is threaded and clamping members, said clamping members each comprising a body portion having a hole therein of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the rod, said body portion having a narrow neck portion, an overhanging lip el-ement integral therewith, the body port-ion having a shoulder thereon lover which the lip projects, the said shoulder being vertically slotted over the hole through the body, said clamping member having an inclined outer `face.

6. In a track brace structure, a rod member which is threaded, a pair or" rail clamping elements on the threaded portion of the rod member, said rail clamping members having rail engaging recesses therein and having holes therethrough throughV which the rod passes, said members being vertically tiltable on the rod, nut members cooperating with the clamping members, and means for effecting a tilting motion of the clamping members when the nuts are brought to bear thereagainst for causing the clamping members to bind the base of a rail engaged therewith.

7.A track brace comprising a threaded rod member, rail engaging clamps on the rod member, said clamps having holes therethrough through which the rod member passes, the holes being of greater diameter than the rod so that the clamping members are capable of a limited transverse movement with respect to the rod, and nuts threaded on the rod for cooperation with the clamps, said clamps and nuts having cooperating surfaces arranged to effect a tilting motion of the clamps when the nuts exert a pressure thereagainst.

8. A track brace including a tie rod, a pair of rail clamping members slidably received on each end of the tie rod, said clamping members having holes therethrough of larger diameter than the tie rod, said clamping members having rail base engaging recesses therein, the holes through the clamping members being immediately below the recess, that portion of the body of the clamping members between the recess and the hole being omitted to provide a slot, nuts threaded on to the tie rod 'for cooperation with the clamping members and means for eecting a tilting motion of the clamping members when the nuts are made to press against the clamping members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

'THOMAS H. EDELBLUTE. 

